About the Young Artist Competition
The Young Artist Competition is open to high school contestants from New Hampshire or the Seacoast region of Maine and Massachusetts (from Beverly to Wells: view map to see residency boundaries) performing on orchestral instruments (including saxophone, guitar, and piano) who have not formerly been winners of the competition.
Those selected as finalists perform before a live audience at Riverwoods Retirement Community (the Woods campus) in Exeter. The winner performs their solo concerto, accompanied by the PSO at the final mainstage performance of the season at The Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH.
How to apply:
- Complete the online form (view map for residency boundaries)
- All applicants must submit a video audition with accompaniment
- A letter of recommendation from current or most recent instructor (email from instructor is acceptable)
- $25 non-refundable application fee made out to Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (application fee can be waived; if in need please contact PSO)
Applicant must perform a single movement or equivalent (approximate guideline: 8-12 minutes) of a concerto with standard orchestra. The orchestral accompaniment must be available on IMSLP. Please email with questions about these requirements.
Please postmark or email your application no later than February 16, 2026.
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra
Attn: Competition
PO Box 8391,
Portsmouth, NH 03802
All video submissions will be viewed by a panel of judges and selected finalists will perform live at Riverwoods for the judges on Saturday, March 28.
Due to venue limitations, pianists who are selected will perform the final round unaccompanied. All other finalists are required to provide their own accompanist.
Congratulations to 2025’s winner, Hana Jang
Congratulations to the 2025 winner of the Young Artist Competition, violist Hana Jang (pictured center).
She and fellow finalists Evan Fan (piano), Ian Jang (cello), Samuel Geho (violin) and Advika Govindaraju (flute) performed before judges on Saturday, March 29 at Riverwoods Exeter. Evan Fan and Ian Jang were awarded honorable mentions. Hana will perform her winning piece, the first movement of William Walton’s Viola Concerto in A Minor with the PSO at the June 1 concert.
Congratulations to 2024’s winner, Benny Wang
Congratulations to the 2024 winner of the Young Artist Competition, pianist Benny Wang (pictured far left). Benny performed the first movement of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16 with the PSO on June 2 at The Music Hall.
Ian Jang, cello, was awarded 2nd place, Hana Jang, viola, was awarded 3rd place and Victoria Liu, flute, and Ethan Ding, violin, were awarded honorable mention.
We would also like to congratulate everyone who participated in 2024.
Congratulations to 2023’s winner, Roxane Park
Congratulations to the 2023 winner of the Young Artist Competition, pianist Roxane Park (pictured far left). Roxane performed the third movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18 with the PSO on June 11 at The Music Hall.
Hugo Chen, violin, was awarded 2nd place, Benny Wang, piano, was awarded 3rd place and Katy Scott, violin, was awarded an honorable mention.
We would also like to congratulate everyone who participated in 2023.
Congratulations to 2022’s winner, Sean Jang
Congratulations to the 2022 winner of the Young Artist Competition, Sean Jang and to the honorable mention, Hannah Rubin. Sean will be performing the Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius with the Portsmouth Symphony on June 5 at the Music Hall.
We would also like to congratulate everyone who participated in the Young Artist Competition in 2022
